Combined knife



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VM. H. RICHARDS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHAS. T. BABCOCK, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED KNIFE, FORK, AND SPOON.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,916, dated July 23, 1861.

To all whom t may cof/wem.

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM H. RICH- ARDS, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Combined Camp Knife, Fork, and Spoon, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a plan of the combined knife, fork and spoon as closed for packing and Fig. 2, a similar view of the other side. Fig. 3 represents a side view of the same and Fig. 4, a section through the line 00, fr of Fig. l. Fig. 5 represents a plan of the knife as detached for use, and Fig. 6,

a. similar view of the fork and spoon.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and eflicient knife fork and spoon for camp purposes at small cost and which, when not in use, can be so put together as to occupy but little space in a soldiers knapsack so as to inconvenience him as little as possible. I

By reference to the drawing Figs. 5 and (3. it will he seen that the three are formed in two pieces the knife (A) forming one piece and the fork (B) and spoon (C) another piece. They are formed out of sheet steel, by being first stamped out, and afterward swaged into form, and finished up in the usual way. That end of the knife,

which forms the handle, is provided with two lips (a) which serves the double purpose of making a good handle and a case or sheath for the prongs of the fork; similar lips (b) being also formed and tur'ned over between the fork and the spoon to form a sheath or case for the blade of the knife, so

that when they are not required for use, by

slipping the blade of the knife under the lips (b) of the fork and spoon and the prongs of the fork under the lips (a) of the knife handle and pushing them home, the two pieces forming the knife fork and spoon are not only held firmly together as represented in Figs. l, 2, 3, but so as to occupy but little space as may be seen in Fig. 4:. By this plan of securing them together, the edge of the knife and prongs of the fork are so held as to prevent injury to persons handling them in that condition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The within described combined knife fork and spoon for camp purposes when such are constructed and arranged in the manner set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

IVM. H. RICHARDS. IVitnesses:

S. E. IvEsoN,

JOSIAH CALDWELL. 

